Strong evidence

Zinc Oxide for Melasma

A physical sunscreen that sits on top of your skin and blocks UV. Broad-spectrum and gentle enough for sensitive or rosacea-prone skin.

Why it works for Melasma

Shields your skin from the full range of UV rays. It is the sunscreen filter the AAD best-practice statement prefers for melasma. On its own, untinted zinc oxide does not block visible light, so it needs iron oxides added to protect against that too.

How Zinc Oxide works

Mineral UV filter that scatters and absorbs UVA and UVB across the full spectrum.

Evidence

4 citations from our ingredient database. Full citation list on the Zinc Oxide ingredient page.

journal2022

Kern C et al., Evaluation of an SPF50 Sunscreen Containing Photolyase and Antioxidants for its Anti-Photoaging Properties and Photoprotection, Journal of Drugs in Dermatology 2022;21(5):517-520 — 10.7% zinc oxide SPF50 mineral sunscreen improved photoaging signs over 12 weeks

regulatory safety2020

MFDS Approved Functional Cosmetic Active — Zinc Oxide (UV protection / sunscreen). Korean Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, Cosmetic Functional Active Ingredient List — inorganic UV filter approved under the Korean Functional Cosmetics Codex sunscreen category

regulatory safety2018

CIR Safety Assessment of Zinc Salts as Used in Cosmetics (Scott et al.), final report 2018 / re-review 2024 (covers zinc oxide among 27 zinc ingredients)

regulatory safety2014

SCCS Opinion on Zinc Oxide (nano form) as UV filter in sunscreens, SCCS/1518/13, revision of 22 April 2014

Products with Zinc Oxide in our catalog

These are the catalog products that list Zinc Oxide as a tracked ingredient.

La Roche-Posay

Anthelios Mineral Tinted SPF 50

$35 · SPF

EltaMD

UV Clear Face Sunscreen SPF 46

$45 · SPF

EltaMD

UV Clear Tinted Face Sunscreen SPF 46

$47 · SPF

EltaMD

UV Physical Tinted Face Sunscreen SPF 41

$44 · SPF

Round Lab

Birch Juice Mild-Up Sun Cream SPF50+

$20 · SPF

Dr.G

Green Mild Up Defense Mineral Sunscreen SPF50

$22 · SPF

Full Zinc Oxide guide →Melasma overview →